Know the Signs of Ketoacidosis

Ketoacidosis is a life-threatening condition that occurs in people with diabetes when a lack of insulin forces the body to burn fat as fuel; dehydration is usually present, too. A study of 5,615 young people with type 1 diabetes found that about a third had ketoacidosis at the time they were diagnosed—and that proportion hasn’t changed since 2002. Younger children, minorities, kids from low-income families, and those without private insurance were more likely to develop ketoacidosis prior to diagnosis. The dangerous condition can be prevented if diabetes signs and symptoms (such as extreme thirst, frequent urination, and nausea and vomiting) are recognized early enough. Source:Pediatrics, published online March 31, 2014